People First

A sports hall had existed in Pécs since 1873, but a much larger facility was needed. The Lauber Dezső Municipal Sports Hall, in operation since 1976, is the city's central sports venue. In addition to sports events, it also hosts major cultural events. Its namesake, Dezső Lauber, was not only a versatile sportsman but also an architect. Interestingly, perhaps only a few people know that in Pécs we have a strange sports hall, deep in the middle of the sports field. According to urban legend, this is because the building was originally intended as a swimming pool.
It is also interesting to note that the "Basketball Woman" statue on the eastern corner of the building commemorates Judit Horváth, a sixty-seven-time national team basketball player who sadly passed away at an early age.

Renovation work on the Sports Hall started in 2019 and has resulted in the building being largely barrier-free. This included the creation of barrier-free entrances, parking spaces and a barrier-free toilet. The renovated building was reopened to the public in March 2024.

Overall, disabled people can move around independently on the accessible ground floor, but visually impaired people without local knowledge may need assistance.

Entrances:
There are several entrances to the event, access is via entrances 1. and 2. Entrance 1. is located at the corner of the building facing Bolygó street, and Entrance 2. is the stair entrance.

Entrance 1. is the barrier-free entrance, with an external lift for wheelchair access, operated by staff. A 24-hour reception service is available, with a bell at the entrance to request assistance for access. Pass holders and VIP guests are admitted through this entrance.
If the lift is not working, access to the sports hall can be gained via the office wing entrance from Tüzér Street, but due to the steepness of the ramp, manual wheelchair assistance is required. The bells are located on the left hand side of the entrance, at a conventional height. Opening the double doors also requires external assistance.

Entrance 2., the staircase entrance, is where ticket buyers enter. Wheelchair access is not possible here, and it is difficult for people with reduced mobility to enter. For the visually impaired, a short red tactile sign on the right-hand side of the staircase at street level directs you to the stairs and shows you the direction of the pavement. Tactile markings at the top of the stairs indicate the end of the stairway. When entering the building from Entrance 2, a blue tactile guide for the visually impaired to the cloakroom is provided.
There are no tactile signs or guide rails in the rest of the building.

Grandstand level:
Wheelchair spaces for viewing sports and other events are located at the level of the recessed sports field, right next to the sports ground. Stairs lead up to the upstairs grandstand level, with handrails on either side, and tactile ribs on the edges of the steps, which are darker in colour. In the grandstand, increased attention is required, as there are no tactile and distinct visual cladding signs. The height of the chairs here is 46 cm.
In the playing area, two large displays provide a visual indication of the status of the sporting event. There is no special warning of the start or end of the break, or of the broadcast.

Quiet room not available.

Accessible toilets:
The spacious accessible toilet on the ground floor next to the buffet is easily accessible, with a changing area in the lobby and a shower with fold-down seat in the toilet. There is no anti-slip seat. There is an alarm bell at the reception.
Non-accessible toilets are located one level down and are accessible by stairs.

Buffet:
There is a buffet in the building, the counter is a little high from a wheelchair, but the staff are helpful. The plastic tables are 70 cm high.

Website:
The Sports Hall website has an Accessible menu icon, which can be of help to visually impaired and dyslexic people, among others. As a blind person, the site is well designed, the menus are easy to follow and easy to use. It's easy to use even for people with mobility impairments, the menus are clear, the drop-down lists are the right size, and the site is easy to navigate. It doesn't take too many clicks to find the content you're looking for.
Downloadable floor plans of the different parts of the building can be helpful for preliminary orientation. Under the About menu, in the Introduction sub-menu, the tasks are specifically dedicated to the promotion of sport for people with disabilities.

Getting there:
by bus: if you are arriving by bus 4, 4Y, 104, 104A, 104E, get off at the "Sportcsarnok" stop. If you are coming from the direction of Kertváros on busline 1., get off at the "PÉTÁV" stop. However, please note that the busline 1. is not always barrier-free, so it is advisable to check in advance.
From the bus stops, high kerbs and bumpy pavements make access difficult in all directions, and wheelchair users will need assistance.

by car: the asphalted parking lot from Veress Endre street has 3 barrier-free spaces with signs and pavement markings. From this car park, wheelchair access to the barrier-free entrance 1. is easy and short. The bell at the lift is located at a height accessible from a wheelchair.

The pavement around the building is well maintained, plain and of adequate width.